6 Ways We Are Spotlighting Type 2 Inflammation Awareness Week

Published: May 8, 2026

Revised: May 21st, 2026

Family preparing breakfast together with allergen friendly foods.

What’s the common thread behind many respiratory, allergic and skin conditions? For millions of people, it’s Type 2 inflammation.

Join us May 18-22, 2026, for Type 2 Inflammation Awareness Week. When you understand the role that inflammation and swelling plays in your disease, you become better equipped to take charge of it. You are better able to find a treatment plan that works for you.

Allergy & Asthma Network is working to educate and empower people living with chronic conditions driven by Type 2 inflammation – while also making sure their voices are heard.

Type 2 inflammation occurs when your immune system response is overactive. Your immune system is designed to protect your body from allergens, irritants and infections – and then turn off once those threats are gone. But with Type 2 inflammation, your immune system response keeps working. It sends signals that cause ongoing swelling and irritation, including in the airways and on the skin. This response can last longer than it should, contributing to symptoms that may range from moderate to severe.

Type 2 inflammation is considered chronic, meaning it can persist over time, even when symptoms are not always visible or felt.

  • A graphic asks, "What's Really Driving Your Symptoms?" listing asthma, eczema, and sinus congestion. It suggests these conditions may be connected, showing a silhouette and stylized germs. Allergy & Asthma Network logo appears at the bottom.
  • Diagram of a person’s silhouette highlighting the sinus passages, esophagus, lungs, skin, and stomach, showing how type 2 inflammation can affect multiple body parts in allergic conditions.
  • Silhouette of a person with highlighted immune cells in the torso, illustrating type 2 inflammation. Text explains how an overactive immune system reacts to triggers, causing ongoing inflammation and symptoms.
  • Infographic explaining the Allergic March: eczema as a baby, food allergies as a toddler, and asthma or allergic rhinitis as a school-aged child, linked by Type 2 inflammation.
  • Infographic showing a human silhouette surrounded by overlapping circles labeled Asthma, Eczema, Hay Fever, Food Allergies, EoE, and Nasal Polyps, illustrating Type 2 inflammation and its overlapping conditions.
  • Silhouette of a female doctor with a stethoscope. Text explains that specialists can order tests—IgE, eosinophils, and FeNO—to identify causes of Type 2 inflammation. Allergy & Asthma Network logo at bottom right.
  • Silhouette of a female doctor with a stethoscope and a male patient facing each other. A speech bubble lists specialists for Type 2 inflammatory diseases, including allergists, dermatologists, pulmonologists, ENT, and GI doctors.
  • Infographic titled "Treating Type 2 Inflammation" explains corticosteroids: reduce inflammation, are often a first-line medication, and do not treat the root cause. Includes medication icons and Allergy & Asthma Network logo.
  • Infographic about treating Type 2 inflammation with JAK inhibitors, listing benefits such as blocking inflammation signals and note that they're approved for eczema only. Illustrated with medicine icons and Allergy & Asthma Network branding.
  • Infographic titled "Treating Type 2 Inflammation." It explains that biologics target type 2 inflammation in moderate to severe disease, improving control by addressing the root cause. Allergy & Asthma Network logo at the bottom.
  • A doctor and patient silhouette face each other. A speech bubble explains that healthcare works best with shared decision-making involving patients and professionals to ensure care fits individual needs and goals. Allergy & Asthma Network logo is visible.
  • Two silhouettes, one of a doctor with a stethoscope and one of a patient, face each other. A speech bubble asks about Type 2 inflammation and getting the right treatment. Allergy & Asthma Network logo is at the bottom.

Health Conditions Affected by Type 2 Inflammation

Type 2 inflammation can be the root cause of multiple conditions, many of them atopic diseases.

  • Moderate to severe asthma. A chronic lung condition that causes episodes of coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Asthma is caused by genetic and environmental factors. It results in airway inflammation with tightened, narrow muscles, and excess mucus. Exposure to environmental allergens (pollen, mold, pet dander, dust mites) can cause allergic asthma.

➚ Is your asthma well controlled? Here’s how to find out!

  • Eosinophilic asthma (or eosasthma).A type of asthma driven by high levels of eosinophils in the body. It leads to persistent airway inflammation, difficulty breathing, and more severe asthma symptoms. It can be hard to control with traditional asthma medications, such as inhaled corticosteroids.

➚ Visit eosasthma.org to learn how eosinophilic asthma is diagnosed and what treatment options are available.

  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). A progressive lung disease that makes breathing increasingly difficult over time. The two primary COPD diseases are emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

➚ Download a list of NSAIDS to avoid if you live with AERD.

  • Allergic rhinitis. A nasal condition, also known as hay fever, that causes sneezing, runny nose, congestion and itchy eyes. It’s usually triggered by allergens like pollen, mold, dust mites or pet dander. It can result in decreased productivity or missed school or workdays. If you also have asthma, allergic rhinitis can worsen your respiratory symptoms.
  • Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Chronic rhinosinusitis (or chronic sinusitis) is a sinus disease. It is diagnosed when a sinus infection is present for 12 or more weeks. Nasal polyps are small noncancerous growths that line the nasal passages and sinuses. These can affect your breathing. When the two conditions are combined, it is called CRSwNP.

➚ How bad are your sinus symptoms? Take the quick 2-minute SNOT-22 quiz to find out.

  • Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD). A chronic condition that involves asthma, nasal polyps that keep coming back, and sensitivity to aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Exposure to NSAIDs often leads to more severe disease.
  • Moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (eczema). A chronic skin condition that causes dry, itchy, scaly and inflamed skin. It is caused by a weakened skin barrier that allows moisture to escape and irritants to enter. The skin may become cracked or thicken over time due to repeat scratching. Symptoms often come and go in cycles. There are seven types of eczema– atopic dermatitis is the most common.
  • Chronic urticaria (chronic hives). A condition in which itchy, raised welts appear on the skin and keep coming back for six weeks or longer. They often appear without a clear cause – this is called chronic spontaneous urticaria. The hives can vary in size and shape and may move from one area of the body to another.
  • Food allergies. An immune system reaction to certain food allergens (such as peanut, tree nuts, egg, milk, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat and sesame). Food allergies can cause itchy hives, breathing and stomach problems, and swelling in or around the mouth. Severe allergic reactions are anaphylaxis.
  • Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). A chronic condition in which eosinophils build up in the esophagus. This leads to difficulty swallowing, food obstruction, reflux, and swelling.

Type 2 inflammation is a common thread linking millions of patient experiences with allergic diseases. Yet many people remain undiagnosed, misunderstood, or under-treated because this underlying driver is often overlooked.

Understanding Why the Connection Matters

When chronic diseases share the same underlying inflammation, it can change how they are diagnosed and treated.

Understanding Type 2 inflammation can help:

  • Explain why symptoms persist
  • Identify overlapping conditions (co-morbidities)
  • Open the door to more targeted treatments
  • Improve communication with healthcare providers

This is why awareness is so important. It can help connect the dots.

How is Allergy & Asthma Network Getting Involved in Type 2 Inflammation Awareness Week?

We are sharing trusted resources across our platforms to educate and empower our community. Here are some ways you can join us!

1. Share educational content

Explore our comprehensive Type 2 Patient Navigator to find information about what type 2 inflammation is, symptoms, triggers, co-morbidities, management and more.

2. Listen to our Type 2 inflammation podcast series

Our podcast is produced in partnership with The Itch Podcast. It includes a series dedicated to Type 2 Inflammation. Episodes include:

3. Promote expert-led education

Our video series features interviews with board-certified allergists Dr. Payel Gupta and Dr. Juanita Mora. In the 3-minute videos, they help make the complex overlapping conditions of Type 2 inflammation easier to understand.

¡Y en español con la Dra. Juanita Mora!

4. Spotlight treatment options

Understanding Type 2 inflammation has led to more targeted and effective treatments for allergic and inflammatory diseases.

  • Corticosteroids: These are broad-based medications that reduce inflammation, control and relieve symptoms, and reduce the risk of flare-ups. They are available as inhalers, nasal sprays, topical creams (for skin conditions), and short courses of oral pills. Corticosteroids are usually a first-line treatment.
  • Biologics: These are advanced medications that target Type 2 inflammation in people with moderate to severe disease. By addressing the root cause, biologics can treat multiple conditions at once and improve disease control.
  • JAK Inhibitors: These are oral and topical medications approved for patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (eczema). They work inside cells to block signaling pathways involved in skin swelling, including those linked to Type 2 inflammation.

5. Elevate your voice

Through our “Every Breath Has a Story Campaign,” we invite people living with or caring for someone with Type 2 inflammation to share their story with us.

Your voice can help others feel seen, understood and empowered. You may even inspire someone to take control of their health.

Whether it’s a challenge you have overcome, a daily reality you navigate, or a message you want others to hear, your story has the power to make a difference.

Submit your video and be part of a community turning lived experiences into awareness, connection, and change.

6. Highlight the connection between Type 2 inflammation and EoE

During Type 2 Inflammation Awareness Week, we recognize Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)Awareness Day on May 22. This is an opportunity to spotlight a condition that is often overlooked yet deeply connected to Type 2 inflammation.

EoE is a chronic inflammatory disease of the esophagus. It is driven in part by the same Type 2 inflammatory pathways seen in asthma, eczema and nasal polyps. In EoE, the immune system overreacts to certain foods or environmental allergens, leading to:

  • A buildup of eosinophils in the esophagus
  • Ongoing inflammation and tissue damage
  • Symptoms that can make swallowing food difficult, cause reflux, and affect quality of life

Because EoE is part of the broader Type 2 inflammatory response, understanding this connection can help patients and providers:

  • Recognize related conditions
  • Consider targeted treatments, such as biologics that target eosinophil production, the underlying cause of EoE
  • Take a more coordinated, whole-person approach to care

At Allergy & Asthma Network, we believe that knowledge is power and awareness drives change. This week we are asking you to learn, share, and raise awareness about Type 2 inflammation.

Type 2 inflammation may not always be visible, but its impact is real. Greater awareness can help improve diagnosis, personalize treatment, and empower people to feel better.

Reviewed by:
Bradley Chipps, MD, FACAAI, is a board-certified allergist and pediatric pulmonologist with Capital Allergy and Respiratory Disease Center in Sacramento, California. He earned his medical degree from University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 1972. He is Past President of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

Supported by:

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FPIES, Allergic Proctocolitis and Other Non-IgE Driven Allergic GI Diseases (New Webinar)
Take the SNOT-22 Survey
Allergy & Asthma Network to Highlight Patient-Centered Research and Health Equity at American Thoracic Society 2026 International Conference
6 Ways We Are Spotlighting Type 2 Inflammation Awareness Week